Discussions By Condition: Medical Stories

Menstrual Irregularities---Solved

I am hoping by sharing my story others might help another woman solve her problems. About7 or 8 years ago My periods started taking longer and longer to end. I would be heavy for several days and then just spot for at least 4 days before finally ended. This problem continued for months. It was irritating but I didn’t seek medical advice. At the time I was taking a very good multiple vitamin/mineral supplement and had ate good diet. Well, I developed wrist pains and through research discovered many people with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome benefit from taking extra Vitamin B6. Since it is not good to take the B vitamins in isolation of each other, I started taking a Time Released B Complex w/C on a daily basis. To my surprise, as soon as I added the B complex to my diet my periods returned to normal. There was no other changes in my life.

For the past few years I have not been feeling all that well but every doctor I see says nothing is wrong. In 2006 I went to an Endocrinologist who said I did not have a hormonal problem. Since I am in my 40’s, I also visited an OBGYN who said I was not perimenopausal. My cycles had become very irregular. I would go 40 or 50 days without a period, only to have a very heavy and long period. Then maybe 10 days later at most I would spot for a few days. This had been going on for months when I finally went to the OBGYN. He did order an ultra-sound which revealed a cyst in my uterus which he believed was the reason I was bleeding so much. My complaint had never been heavy bleeding and since he thought it was benign I decided not to have surgery to remove it. This new menstrual problem continued for another year until this summer. It was then that I started researching my other medical symptoms, one being chronic thirst. I came across potassium deficiency and realized I had a lot of symptoms. I also discovered my Multiple only has no potassium in it. So I started taking a lot of potassium, which did help my thirst. I was also shocked when I immediately started having normal periods. I have not had an irregular period since I started taking potassium.

Hope my story helps other women with menstrual problems. Do not assume eating a healthy diet and taking a multiple is enough. If you are having problems, you could be deficient in something like I apparently was.